The Miniature World of Marvin & James (Masterpiece Adventures #1)

Broach and Murphy bring back James and his beetle best friend, Marvin--previously seen in 2008's acclaimed Masterpiece--in this first book in the Masterpiece Adventures series of chapter books. Their cross-species friendship is just right for a younger crowd, and so are the insecurities and frustrations Marvin is feeling as James prepares to go on a trip to the beach without him ("Marvin does not want to help James pack. But at least it is something they can do together"). James leaves in the first chapter and doesn't return until the fifth and final one; while he's away, Marvin goes exploring with his cousin Elaine, a journey that takes a genuinely harrowing turn when they get stuck in Mr. Pompaday's mechanical pencil sharpener. Murphy's pen-and-ink illustrations shift from glee to horror as she shows the bug-eyed beetles cannonballing into the soft pit of pencil shavings, only to have their escape route plugged by a pencil. Despite the simplicity of Broach's pared-down sentences, the story brims with both emotion and moments of quiet wisdom. Ages 6-9. (Feb.)

Gr 1-4--In a companion to the acclaimed Masterpiece (Holt, 2008), best friends James (a boy) and Marvin (a beetle) are separated for a week while James goes on vacation. Marvin has to make do with his irritating cousin, Elaine. Their hijinks are highlighted in this charming and humorous chapter book series opener about friendship and adventure.

"Page-turning adventure." —The Horn Book

"This winsome series debut is both a sweet story of cross-species friendship and a sobering new way to look at pencil sharpeners." —Kirkus Reviews

"Inventive . . . Broach . . . packs this fast-moving story with perennially seductive themes: hidden lives and secret friendships, miniature worlds lost to disbelievers . . . Broach and Kelly show readers something new." —Publishers Weekly, starred review on Masterpiece

"Delightful intricacies of beetle life . . . blend seamlessly with the suspenseful caper as well as the sentimental story of a complicated-but-rewarding friendship . . . Murphy's charming pen-and-ink drawings populate the short chapters of this funny, winsome novel." —Kirkus Reviews on Masterpiece

"This marvelous story is sure to be a hit." —School Library Journal on Masterpiece

"Despite the simplicity of Broach's pared-down sentences, the story brims with both emotion and moments of quiet wisdom." —Publishers Weekly, starred review on Masterpiece